‘Space emoji’ shows the universe smiling back at us: Light phenomenon makes distant galaxy look like a grinning emoticon
The Daily Mail – Nov. 25
It is used as a universal expression of joy and happiness, but imagine the surprise astronomers had when they spotted a ‘smiley emoji’ grinning back down at them from space. The circular face is actually made up of two groups of galaxies 4.6 billion light years away which have been distorted over by the effects of gravity on the light. . . . The two ‘eyes’ are in fact massive galaxies racing towards one another at more than 300,000 mph (482,803km/h) and they are expected to collide in around one billion years.. . . Writing in a paper published on the open source journal site arxiv.org, Professor Jimmy Irwin, an astronomer at the University of Alabama, and his colleagues said: ‘The Cheshire Cat is a relatively poor group of galaxies dominated by two luminous elliptical galaxies surrounded by at least four arcs from gravitationally lensed background galaxies that give the system a humorous appearance.
Singapore News – Nov. 24
UA professor to take part in study evaluating needs of veterans
Crimson White – Nov. 25
Dr. David Albright of The University of Alabama will take part in a study to evaluate the needs of military veterans. The study will fixate on the southern region of the state of Alabama, including Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, Clarke, Choctaw and Washington counties. “The purpose of the South Alabama Veterans Needs Assessment is to identify the unmet needs and perceived gaps in available services of veterans and their families located in an eight-county area in southern Alabama in which approximately 64,000 veterans reside,” Albright said. Interviews, surveys and focus groups will collect information for the study. The study will also incorporate date on health care access, education and employment.
Holiday shopping
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – Nov. 24
Some people may have been planning their holiday shopping for a couple of months. More people may have been saving a lot longer. According to Dr. Kristy Reynolds, a professor at The University of Alabama, who specializes in consumer shopping habits, there are going to be a lot of deals to be had between now and Black Friday. According to Dr. Reynolds, some of the best deals could be on Thursday.
UA’s Entrepreneurial Research Network to receive large grant
WTVA-NBC (Columbus, Mississippi) – Nov. 24 (video not available)
The University of Alabama is getting some financial help to assist budding business owners in 10 counties including Lamar, Marion and Pickens counties. The Appalachian Regional Commission is providing $75,000 for the University’s Alabama Entrepreneurial Research Network. That network will buy equipment, books and software for its small business assistance sites in those counties.